[Faculty of Global Nursing] Nurses and nursing students invited from Laos to the Sakura Science Program

For seven days from February 24 to March 2, 2025, we invited a total of eight participants from Laos: two nursing faculty members, two nursing undergraduate students (Lao University of Health Sciences), and two nursing supervisors (National Mahosot Hospital) at Otemae University Osaka Campus.
This program was implemented under the theme of "Japan-Laos Nursing Leadership Development Program: Learning Interrelation between Research and Clinical Practice" with the support of "International Youth Science Exchange Program (Sakura Science Program)" of Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

During the program, lectures and exercises were given in English by faculty members from Faculty of Global Nursing, and participants learned about the Japanese medical system, attempts at nursing education using ICT, and the reality of nursing education in Japan. They were able to have a meaningful exchange of opinions in discussions with faculty members and graduate students from our university about nursing education and nursing research in both countries.
In addition, the students also had the opportunity to study at Osaka International Cancer Institute and Fureai Kyoseikai, a social welfare corporation. At Osaka International Cancer Institute, they were able to learn about career education for nurses, and at Fureai Kyoseikai, they were able to learn about the current state of welfare for the elderly and people with disabilities.
In addition to interacting through nursing studies, on the day of their arrival in Japan, students from Faculty of Global Nursing became their host families and took them on a day-long home visit. During the program, the students also had the opportunity to experience Japanese life and culture, including participating in a stamp rally at Osaka Castle and an okonomiyaki party.

On the final day, all the invitees gave presentations on what they had learned through the program and were awarded certificates of completion. They also showed off their traditional Laotian costumes and were seen saying goodbye with regret.

This time, we implemented a program that incorporates nursing education and nursing research that explores nursing in line with the diverse cultures that our faculty upholds. We hope that this will lead to the continued development of international nursing research in both Japan and Laos.

(Source: Faculty of Global Nursing)